Homeland Security Is Seizing Internet Domains Left And Righthttp://www.businessinsider.com/homeland-security-is-seizing-internet-domains-left-and-right-2010-11/comments
en-usWed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500Mon, 19 Mar 2018 11:33:54 -0400Nick Sainthttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf65845cadcbbd049050000RCWed, 01 Dec 2010 09:14:29 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf65845cadcbbd049050000
The sadest part is that someone who can afford to buy say, a real Louis Vetton bag/scarf/etc, isn't going to buy a knockoff version only those people who want to look nice and aren't rich will. So basically this is just the government protecting the wealthiest American's right to uncompromised vanity...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf5702649e2ae4d3d010000PC_4N6Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:44:06 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf5702649e2ae4d3d010000
Agree w/ most of this, but.... talk to Italy about corporate corruption of the government. They practically invented fascism.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf56632ccd1d5c6781b0000PC_4N6Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:01:38 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf56632ccd1d5c6781b0000
Agree wholeheartedly with @Nick. I don't completely disagree with the gov't action, but this should have been FTC or some other Commerce related agency. Handing it to DHS/ICE simply because they are successful at pushing their agenda under "What? You love the terrorists!?!" bullying tactics is, IMO extreme hubris and ends justifying any and all means.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf3914ecadcbb86035e0000MattMon, 29 Nov 2010 06:41:02 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf3914ecadcbb86035e0000
Finally some one who gets it.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf38f80cadcbb66767b0000Matt AucklandMon, 29 Nov 2010 06:33:20 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf38f80cadcbb66767b0000
"This isn't rocket science or complicated or some sort of massive government conspiracy."
True, but give it a few days and it will :)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf38f2acadcbbd0100b0000Matt AucklandMon, 29 Nov 2010 06:31:54 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf38f2acadcbbd0100b0000
Maybe wikileaks.org should start using a non-us domain, or even buy up all variations of there domain, so even if the .com and .org are taken over by ICE at DNS level, the other domains will continue to operate.
But as you righty pointed out, as long as the site is hosted by a non-us ISP, the servers will remain up.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf30779ccd1d5d81b320000caffesilviaSun, 28 Nov 2010 20:52:57 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf30779ccd1d5d81b320000
The United States is a sinking ship, both from an economic and civil liberties standpoint. Some very evil and dishonest people in the government have used 9/11 as an excuse to dramatically expand the powers of the government in ways that could scarcely have been anticipated.
A couple of years ago, I had a sinus/allergy attack and tried to purchase some Sudafed. I was informed by the pharmacist that, under the USA PATRIOT act, I would be unable to purchase even a single box of over-the-counter medication without supplying a photo ID and allowing my personal information to be sent to the government. (In fact, I had to continue suffering, as my wallet had just been stolen and I only had cash -- I actually couldn't purchase a simple over-the-counter medication because the government would be unable to track it.) What in God's name, or in the name of "patriotism," does this have to do with preventing another terrorist attack on the scale of 9/11? Not a damned thing. Nothing.
To this day, agencies are continuing to discover new powers they have over citizens under that abominable piece of legislation, all unrelated to the originally stated purpose of fighting Al Qaeda.
Now, of course, we have government-sponsored molestation occurring at airports -- as a penalty for "opting out" of a full-body X-ray that would show every detail of one's genitalia to a government officials. (The X-ray scan also increases one's susceptibility to cancer. The amount of this risk is currently UNKNOWN, because the government has flatly refused to produce even a single test report that would indicate the actual number of photons released by a working machine. If the machines are as safe as the government claims, why won't it publish even a single test result?)
I'm actively investigating citizenship in other countries. It's true that most of Europe has already shifted to a surveillance state. But at least Europe is honest and relatively transparent about the data it collects on citizens. And, of course, in no other country on Earth except the United States does one find such extreme levels of corporate-sponsored corruption among lawmakers and agency officials.
The United States as we once knew it is finished.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf29105cadcbb6d6d0b0000NeverLNGSun, 28 Nov 2010 12:27:33 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf29105cadcbb6d6d0b0000
This should go viral.
The government can't shut down the whole internet. They need it too much -- most of it is corporate-controlled commerce and immensely profitable.
But clever people can exploit the weaknesses inherent in corporate greed.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf13f0ecadcbb9431010000Mel TormeSat, 27 Nov 2010 12:25:33 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf13f0ecadcbb9431010000
RIA above was being facetious, people. It was obvious to me, anyway. I guess you can't take back your thumbs-down. This is indeed a scary development, but Americans are mostly sheep anyway. They really don't care what freedoms (specified in the US Constitution) get taken away from them, so long as the check is in the mail, they don't get squeezed too hard at the airport, and food is still cheap.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf1364b49e2ae7d52120000Jimmy JonesSat, 27 Nov 2010 11:48:11 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf1364b49e2ae7d52120000
shut up.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf13419cadcbb1324040000MarkInFlaSat, 27 Nov 2010 11:38:49 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf13419cadcbb1324040000
Ha ha ha! Go to torrent-finder.com and the government has seized it. But go to torrent-finder.info and they are back in business! Stupid government doesn't realize they can't win at whack-a-mole!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf132cd4bd7c8ec4b1d0000Beth DonovanSat, 27 Nov 2010 11:33:17 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf132cd4bd7c8ec4b1d0000
I believe it would be the Customs part of ICE that would be assigned this kind of duty. Just like when you come back to the USA from Overseas - if you are bringing back say a purse that is a knockoff of a Gucci, Customs will take it from you. If you get upset about it, they'll prosecute you.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf132354bd7c800511b0000spoofproofSat, 27 Nov 2010 11:30:44 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf132354bd7c800511b0000
I fully agree with Alexander Goristal and lushfun. If We The People don't stand up against these government thugs they will grind our bones to powder and dance in the dust. Tyranny always starts small and this is another baby-step against Us. If We allow their small tyranny to continue the Federal Unionized Thug Bureaucracy (AFL-CIO-AFSCME-AFGW & Richard Trumka, their leader) will take bigger and bigger steps against Us; bigger and bigger bites out of our Liberty. Unchecked, the day will come when you won't be able to cross a State Line without their "approval." Think not? Just sit there and do nothing. The Government Worker will get to you sooner than later. "They" know who you are. "They" know where you live. Curse them all. God Helps Those Who Help Themselves!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf124a44bd7c8114a070000lushfunSat, 27 Nov 2010 10:32:52 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf124a44bd7c8114a070000
unless we fight these tactics they will progress to full scale expropriation without due process.
all this seems trivial but the government is taking property no matter how little without due process. and it needs to stop, the presumption of innocence until your day in court to contest the charges needs to continue otherwise we are all skrwd...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf11c9e4bd7c8f934140000Cerita DewasaSat, 27 Nov 2010 09:58:38 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf11c9e4bd7c8f934140000
I wonder what they will try to shut down next ? Although it seems right if the website was selling illegal goods.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf10cc1ccd1d5481e050000Alexander GoristalSat, 27 Nov 2010 08:50:57 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf10cc1ccd1d5481e050000
It is hugely important to understand what "seized" means in this context. DHS is using ICANN to change the DNS records so that the domain name now resolves to the DHS page of choice, in this case, the warning banner. THE ORIGINAL SITE REMAINS AVAILABLE!!! DNS is nothing but a gigantic translation table from domain names to IP addresses. Your browser uses the IP address to navigate to the site. If you type "http://www.torrent-finder.com" into your brower you will see the DHS banner as advertised. Instead, try typing "208.101.51.57" which was the previous DNS entry for that site. Voila, the original site appears. Now, that may not be permanent: DHS may prevail upon the ISP to actually withdraw all services form the owner, but that could require a court order and be contested, depending on the ISP. Eventually the site revenue sources will dry up, and cause its failure. It is imperative to act quickly. The entire advantage of this particular tactic to DHS is that it bypasses taking the difficult steps required by traditional Constitutional law. Now, how can we exploit this loophole? I have significant IT experience, but I've never specialized in internet technologies. Regarding the capture of this data, it seems to me that some liberty-minded site should begin putting together a database matching the domains and IP addresses of sites that appear to be at high risk to be shut down in the near future, and make that list freely available for download. Perhaps there already exists a site that reliably archives a history of domain-> IP address assignments. If so, it should be identified and a snapshot archived elsewhere for future reference. Anyone know of such a site? Regarding easier use of the data (as opposed to typing each IP address into the browser bar, which is more that even an IT Philistine like myself is willing to do) perhaps someone could create a standard (simple) database schema for this information and create a Firefox browser extension to utilize it. A cruder suggestion would be to use the Hosts file in Windows (this file is searched before other DNS sources and any domain in it will be resolved to the IP address it indicates). Perhaps there is some way to accomplish a similar feat in Linux? In sum, it would appear that we do have tools at our disposal to combat these jackboots in their attempt to stomp out internet freedom; at the very least, we should be able to force them to change to a more obvious and resource-intensive strategy. All it will take is some resolve. If you think that this post contains worthwhile information and advice, I strongly encourage you to copy it to other fora and media.
AleG
P.S. Has it occurred to anyone else that this could be a "live-fire" exercise in preparation to shut down access to Wikileaks because of the prospective publication of dirty diplomatic secrets? Just in case, here are Wikileaks .org current DNS records:
Retrieving DNS records for wikileaks.org...
DNS servers
ns1.everydns.net
ns2.everydns.net
ns3.everydns.net
ns4.everydns.net
Answer records
wikileaks.org SOA
server: ns1.everydns.net
email: hostmaster@wikileaks.org
serial: 1290864007
refresh: 3600
retry: 900
expire: 1209600
minimum ttl: 3600
360s
wikileaks.org NS ns1.everydns.net 86400s
wikileaks.org NS ns2.everydns.net 86400s
wikileaks.org NS ns3.everydns.net 86400s
wikileaks.org NS ns4.everydns.net 86400s
wikileaks.org A 91.194.60.32 3600s
Authority records
Additional records
ns1.everydns.net A 208.76.61.100 86400s
ns2.everydns.net A 208.76.62.100 86400s
ns3.everydns.net A 208.76.63.100 86400s
ns4.everydns.net A 208.76.60.100 86400shttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf09bcc49e2ae156a070000RGFSat, 27 Nov 2010 00:49:00 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf09bcc49e2ae156a070000
RapGodFathers is back with new URL. Check them here: www.rapgodfathers.infohttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf06e104bd7c8126e270000ZekeFri, 26 Nov 2010 21:33:52 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf06e104bd7c8126e270000
First if the sites were supplying trademarked products,then sure it is fine,,to be shutdaown by A govt agency,not security,DHS has and continues to overstep their boundaries,and soon it will become personal. But the real question is this opens a bigger can of worms, since many of the sites shut were mainly link providers,in other words, on their site itself they ahd no infringement,similiar to if you hyperlinked site a is a bad site,,well you are providing a link to it so ...get my picture,this will be ramped up in other areas and soon enforecement will be widespread..domains and websites will just disappear.....and where is freedom of speech when that happens,and who made DHS responsible for the worlds internet?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf06aeccadcbb0d2e150000MattFri, 26 Nov 2010 21:20:28 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf06aeccadcbb0d2e150000
They are protecting personal property (copyrights and trademarks), which falls under security.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf062dd4bd7c82c6e010000Jeffrey SoreffFri, 26 Nov 2010 20:46:05 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf062dd4bd7c82c6e010000
"US Customs is part of ICE which is part of DHS. Customs is partially responsible for enforcing intellectual property law"
Then split intellectual property enforcement back out as a separate agency.
Call it "The department of copyright enforcement" or something similar.
It has *NOTHING* to do with security.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf02b9f4bd7c8c630030000SILUS DOOGOODFri, 26 Nov 2010 16:50:22 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf02b9f4bd7c8c630030000
Homeland security in charge of the internet. How can a government so screwed up be let loose on the american people. Have you seen a government program that has done anything right. If the government is involved run.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf0190fcadcbb574d140000Aaron HuslageFri, 26 Nov 2010 15:31:11 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf0190fcadcbb574d140000
US Customs is part of ICE which is part of DHS. Customs is partially responsible for enforcing intellectual property law as it pertains to the import and sale of counterfeit items in to the US.
This isn't rocket science or complicated or some sort of massive government conspiracy.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf00f72ccd1d5787b060000Recording Industry of AmericaFri, 26 Nov 2010 14:50:10 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf00f72ccd1d5787b060000
Well, Nick, you are either with us or against us. And those site were certainly not with us. Therefore, they were helping terrorists.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf0095bcadcbb5247020000ibsysFri, 26 Nov 2010 14:24:11 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf0095bcadcbb5247020000
exactly - what does it have to do with dhs.gov?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf006bc4bd7c8ed050c0000Nick SaintFri, 26 Nov 2010 14:13:00 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf006bc4bd7c8ed050c0000
That's a very good question. I have attempted to contact ICE about that. I suspect the short answer is that since Homeland Security is a mashup of a slew of different agencies, this is one of the many weird little things under their jurisdiction that isn't implied by the new name. But I'm looking into, will update when I know.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf005c94bd7c89f03190000NickFri, 26 Nov 2010 14:08:57 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf005c94bd7c89f03190000
Remind me, what does this exactly have to do with "Homeland Security?"http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf0050849e2aef776150000Mike eFri, 26 Nov 2010 14:05:43 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4cf0050849e2aef776150000
Sensationalist headline aside, upon closer examination this all look OK to me. It went through the judicial process. A warrant was issued. Saying there were no prior complaints or notification is a strawman argument. Customs doesn't give advanced notice to someone before they knock down the door of their warehouse selling counterfeit merchandise. Why would the web site owner get prior notification? And how would he know if there had or had not been complaints? Louis Vuitton is going to complain to the authorities, not to some shady web site.